How to find out compatible CPU for Upgrade

[LightParticle]

Hello, everyone.

I'm want to upgrade CPU on my notebook Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2450M CPU @ 2.50GHz which is 2 cores 4 threads to the 4 cores 8 threads CPU, or just something relativily fresh. I've tried to look out in this forum about CPU upgrade, So I've download user's guide from HP website as many experts adviced and look out for compatible processors (https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-pavilion-g7-2000-notebook-pc-series/5226249/model/5251388/ma...). Unfortunately in my user's guide documents I did not find out any information about CPU compatibility. 

This is what CPU-Z outputs me:

So when I'm googled information about my socket (which is what I'm think must to do) I've got this page:

http://www.cpu-world.com/Sockets/Socket%20G2%20(rPGA988B).html

But it says "please make sure that the CPU is compatible with the motherboard.

So  how can I will know that? Would help me? Do I need to email directly to the HP's technical support?

P/S. Also, do you think is worth it to upgrade faster processor with 4 cores / 8 threads or something else but faster, for Windows 10  for home office applications and home multimedia (movies, youtube etc). Without games.

Or, in my case, just upgrade to one thing which is SSD would be fine for me?

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

The Maintenance and Service Manual tells the story but its written in such a way that you have to have worked with a few of them to decipher the story. On the motherboard installed in your computer you can install up to an i7-3612QM or you could also install an i7-3520M. 

Manual

First you look at the possible processors on p. 1 then you look at the system board options in the parts list. In this case, this model series uses a single chipset, Intel HM76 Express and there are only a couple system board options. See p. 17. The only difference is the video chip. In many cases you will see 6 or 7 different system boards which are limited only to specific CPUs like for Celeron only or for dual core or Quad core only. No such thing here. So the inference is any of the processors will fit on the motherboard and work. 

Personally I would opt for the dual core i7-3520M because of its higher clock speed. Most apps do not use all 4 cores of a Quad Core so for most things you want the highest clock speed on the same architecture. You would go from 2.5ghz to 2.9 ghz about a 13.8% increase so likely noticeable. You would also go from HD3000 video to HD4000 video which is more compatible with Windows 10. 

You could email HP Tech Support all day long and not get any help like this. There are still a few of us here on the Forum who are hands on enthusiasts and we turn a screwdriver now and then and build and upgrade computers. We are not HP employees. 

I would also be the first to tell you that if you can only do one upgrade, make it the SSD. The processor will be a slight bump up in performance: an SSD is a new world of computing. 

Post back with any more questions and please accept as solution if this is the info you needed. 

[LightParticle]

OK. Thanks for the response. I'm overlook compatible CPU because of Im looked at this manual (http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03239410) not this which is you looked (http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03345593).

It is possible to find it on the link that I'm posted on a first page, but I'm kind of confused because this User's Guide are named the same " HP Pavilion g7 Notebook PC - Maintenance and Service Guide" and "HP Pavilion g7 Notebook PC - Maintenance and Service Guide".

I can upgrade only this CPU's what this in User's Guide posted? I'm asking this because this User's Guide's kind of out dated:

Second Edition: June 2012

Refering to the your reply  about personal opinion about Intel Core i7-3520M (2.9 GHz, SC turbo up to 3.6 GHz, 1600 MHz/4 MB L3 cache, dual core, 35 W). It says processor can boosted up to 3.6 Ghz, so it's about 1Ghz perfomance upgrade. It's more than stock clock speed upgrade about 400Mhz.

But anyway, I'm think I will go upgrade to the SSD first and the think about next if it will be need neccessary.

[Huffer]

They only publish the Manual when the laptop is made so there is no Manual newer than 2012. You will rarely kick in the Turbo on the CPU so you have to judge processors by the base clock speed. You are smart to do the SSD first. Laptop processor upgrades are discussed a lot here but only rarely actually done because they are a pain and not really worth the effort at the end of the day.